Last year, I pitched a grant idea to a Chicago library to make prints using historical images and images from the local community. I never heard back from the grant, but I did pitch it to another – Oak Park Public Library (OPPL). I had frequented it as a patron for many years. I applied last year and never thought about it. After all, I had been used to rejections.

I received an unexpected email from the Exhibitions Manager in late December/early January stating that my application had been accepted. An artist friend encouraged me to do it, even though I had reservations about being able to pull off a community exhibition. Who did I know? How was I going to get community buy-in?

I met with several library staff, and for several meetings, we decided to continue with the exhibition.